A great deal of history has been made in the Archdiocese of Dubuque since its founding in 1837. The Archives Office has attempted to put together a day by day accounting of both the significant and everyday events that have shaped our history.
Feb. 1, 1950: Death of Fr. Nicholas Lentz, founder of St. John’s Parish | The Witness | |
Feb. 1, 2004: Cornerstone blessed at John XXIII Church in Cedar Rapids. | The Witness | |
Feb. 2, 1945: Death of Alfred Delp, German Jesuit; a significant figure in the Catholic resistance to Nazism, a Jesuit martyr. | The Witness | |
Feb. 4, 1913: Birth of Rosa Parks, “prophet” of equality and justice. | The Witness | |
Feb. 6, 1917: St. Joseph’s Hospital, New Hampton was officially opened, although some patients had been previously admitted. | CHAD, p. 643 | |
Feb. 7, 1936: Death of Father John V. Bacci, pastor of Sacred Heart, Oelwein. | The Witness | |
Feb. 7: Feast of Pope Pius IX. | The Witness | |
Feb. 8. 1942: Death of Fr. John J. Collins, pastor of St. Patrick’s, Dougherty. | The Witness | |
Feb. 9, 2003: Archbishop Hanus announces important Hispanic Ministry Positions for the Archdiocese; an awareness of our need to welcome the stranger | The Witness | |
Feb. 10, 1939: Death of Pope Pius XI. | The Witness | |
Feb. 10, 1867: Dedicatory sermon and blessing of St. Mary’s Church, Dubuque | Centennial History of the Archdiocese of Dubuque (1937), pp. 39-41 | |
Feb. 10, 1972: Death of Msgr. Maurice Sheehy, author, educator and first chaplain in the Navy’s history to attain the rank of Vice Admiral. | The Witness | |
Feb. 10, 1850: First marriage at Holy Family Church New Melleray: Peter Tench and Mary Scallion performed by a Father Patrick, O.C.S.O. (The monks were administering to the parish) | Centennial History of the Archdiocese of Dubuque (1937), pp. 57-59 | |
Feb. 11, 1858: First appearance of Our Lady at Lourdes. Letter of Archbishop Byrne from Lourdes in 1962. | The Witness | |
Feb. 11, 1964: Funeral of Father Albin Landolt, who had served the Balltown area for 21 years. | The Witness | |
Feb. 12, 1972: Death of Father Thomas O’Toole, retired pastor of St. Mary’s, Corwith. | The Witness | |
Feb. 13, 1918: St. Ludmila’s, Cedar Rapids. First mass celebrated in a chapel on the lower floor of the school building. Chapel served that purpose until a church was built in 1926. | Centennial History of the Archdiocese of Dubuque (1937), p. 543 | |
Feb. 14, 1940: The Witness sponsored a Cooking School. | The Witness | |
Feb. 14, 1982: Archbishop James J. Byrne began a campaign, asking people to say the “Hail Holy Queen” before watching the evening news, in an effort to help our country. | The Witness | |
Feb. 14, 1926: Dedication of the new St. Joseph’s Church in Key West. | Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, 2/15/1926 | |
Feb. 15, 2002: Vatican announced it will open ahead of schedule part of its 20th-century archives including documents on Vatican-German relations and Pope Pius XII’s efforts to help prisoners during WWII. | The Witness | |
Ash Wednesday 1947: Father William Menster tells in his homily about the symbolism of the crosses that he saw in the skies over the Antarctic Circle. | The Witness | |
Feb. 17, 1916: New brick church at Cresco, St Joseph’s, was dedicated by Archbishop Keane. “A church without debt.” | Centennial History of the Archdiocese of Dubuque (1937), p. 394 | |
Feb. 17, 1941: Father Albert Hoffmann left Dubuque with the Dubuque Company of the Iowa National Guard; details of his service and the loss of a foot from a Nazi mine in Italy. | The Witness | |
Feb. 18, 1951: Death of Father William Rowan, professor of English at Loras College and member of the editorial staff of THE WITNESS. | The Witness | |
Feb. 19, 1858 – Bishop Loras dies | ||
Feb. 19, 1953: Article by Msgr. S. D. Luby on the 95th anniversary of the death of Bishop Loras. | The Witness | |
Bishop Loras praised in US Senate on 100th anniversary of his death, Feb. 19, 1958. Witness editorial of Feb. 13 on Bishop Loras reprinted into the Congressional Record. | The Witness | |
Feb. 20, 1858: Father Clement Smyth, 3rd superior of New Melleray, succeeded Bishop Loras as Bishop of Dubuque. | Centennial History of the Archdiocese of Dubuque (1937)., p. 585 | |
Feb. 20, 1995: 200th birthday celebration of Rev. Terence J. Donaghoe, co-founder of the Sisters of Charity, B.V.M. | The Witness | |
Feb. 22, 1922: Father F. W. Oberbroeckling celebrated the golden jubilee of his priesthood and his pastorate at Holy Trinity, Luxemburg. | CHAD, p. 128 | |
Feb. 23, 1984: Daniel Kucera installed as 10th Bishop and 7th Archbishop of Dubuque | The Witness | |
Science building at Catholic Univ. of America (Washington, D.C.) named in honor of Arch. John J. Keane, first rector of the University and second archbishop of Dubuque (1958) | The Witness | |
Feb. 24, 1921; First issues of The Witness rolled off the press. Established by Archbishop James J. Keane, Msgr, Thomas Conry was the first editor. | The Witness | |
Feb. 25, 1898: Contract signed for a new frame church for St. Mary’s in Spencer Grove. Its graceful steeple was a plaything for every storm that swept over the land. | Centennial History of the Archdiocese of Dubuque (1937), p. 363 | |
Feb. 26, 1962: Farewell homily of Archbishop Leo Binz, before leaving by train for his new assignment in St. Paul | The Witness | |
Feb. 27, 1973: 200 members of the American Indian Movement (AIM) began the occupation of Wounded Knee, S.D. | The Witness | |
Feb. 28, 2013: The See of Rome and the See of St. Peter are vacant due to the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, 265th Pope. | The Witness | |
Feb. 29, 1952: Father Laurence Craney died. At the time he was business manager of Loras College. | The Witness |